Ghost hunting is a something that has become quite the niche genre unto itself. And I don’t mean like Ghostbusters as those are just comedies but rather ghost hunting like what you’d find on The Travel Channel. It’s really not about travel anymore. There is another reason I’m excited to look at this book, it’s a library being haunted. Libraries are very important to me as most of you know. So reading a book where Nance solves a mystery in an old supposedly haunted library was so up my alley.
The Cover
The cover is a bit intense as Nancy runs from a burning library holding a book in her hand which can be assumed to be the journal of the titular Blue Lady.
Narrator
Jorjena Marie
It’s been a while since I’ve listened to a book in this series as the last few I read were hard books. I love Jorjena Marie, she’s who I think of when I hear Nancy’s voice. To be honest though, while I will always be a fan of her work, there were times in this book where it felt as though she was just going through the motions. She quickly picked it up again towards the latter half of the book. Being charitable, this is the twenty third in the Diaries series.
The Plot
Do you know how refreshing it is to be with a more grown up Nancy after two kiddie mysteries. It felt like going back home and now I can just say more than it’s cute. Do not misunderstand, the books starring little Nance are fine but having a mystery with actual stakes and drama was refreshing.
It’s also cool seeing Ned getting a bulk of the spotlight as that’s pretty rare. He’s Nancy’s co lead in the book. He’s become obsessed with True Crime and has started a true crime podcast. (Oh boy). So, as a sort of makeshift date, Nancy and Ned head to the titular Coffin Hall. Ned, hoping to learn more about Harriet Coffin who came from old money but got tired of the drama that the money brought about and was disinherited.
We have a few culprits that seem like usual suspects such as an old librarian who at times does unfortunately fall into the old and outdated trope of librarians being mean. Having worked two years as a library page, librarians are some of the sweetest and most accepting people you’ll ever meet. Thankfully, we see she does have a sweet side when interacting with Bess as Bess took a poetry class taught by her.
However, she is quick to blame Nancy and Ned for the mishaps at the library such as the fire this’d is seen on the cover. Being fair, Ned and Nance are the only patrons. So, it’s easy to blame them but imo she goes a bit too far keeping the couple detained at the library. However, I did find it sweet when the volunteer she “hired” lets them go.
She’s more helpful than the security guard they’ve hired. Oh, and this is where the ghost aspect comes in as the guard hosts a ghost hunting podcast and is willing to shift the blame on poor Ned. As we see during a heated exchange at the book’s climax.
Ned does actually believe he saw a ghost, the Blue Lady as it were and while this Nancy doesn’t believe in ghosts, she believes her boyfriend. Which is very sweet plus when your dad is a lawyer, it seems like you’ll stand up for people more (at least in fiction). Nancy does have a run in with The Blue Lady as while she doesn’t believe in ghosts. Still so odd loving The CW show, might cover something from that again next year.
The Blue Lady appears in her room looking for Harriet’s journal as Ned accidentally stole the journal. Yeah, kinda creepy when the haunting comes to you. That is something I appreciate about the end of this book, they play up wether or not the haunts could be real.
I’ve spent so much time talking up up this aspect that I haven’t even mentioned another one of the suspects and talk about eye roll worthy. This is her, it was groan worthy enough reading her say she’s a She-E-O. Just really?
Hearing it was just as bad but I think that’s kinda the point. Obvious suspect is obvious especially when you get the reveal she has a dead sister. A ghost supposedly haunting an old library and a dead sister, you do the math. Yeah, you might say this is where the family drama comes in. Our CEO lady wants to tear down the library to build a space for content creators. Okay, Benny.
You want to produce films and write songs?
You need somewhere to do it!
It’s what we used to dream about
Think twice before you pooh-pooh it
You’ll see boys
You’ll see boys
Funny how little things have changed as Benny in RENT wants to kick out the homeless and this lady wants to take away a place of education and a place the homeless can rest. Again, speaking from experience here as so many homeless people with giant backpacks have come in trying to avoid the weather. Sometimes the upper class forget the homeless are people too. This is why I could never go with the takes saying Benny is the hero in RENT. Honestly, for a ghost story, this lady is the scariest aspect as she wants to girl boss a library out of existence. She’s even awful to her assistant who actually wanted to work at the library but was talked out of it. Poor girl.
I think this is where I’ll stop.
My Final Thoughts
Unlike other Nancy books, I have a personal connection to this one with it being set in a library. Libraries are an important aspect of my life and they mean the world to me. So, Nancy Drew solving a mystery set in and around a library was always going to be up my alley.
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